| Alcohol and drugs can be a confusing issue for kids. | | | | medicine you don't get from mom or dad. Short, |
| Drugs seem pretty cool in the movies and on TV, | | | | simple statements that are repeated often enough |
| and there's alcohol and drug advertising everywhere: | | | | do a better job. Keep it light, and do it often. |
| prescription drugs for everything and anything, beer | | | | For older kids, choose an appropriate moment - they |
| commercials, and liquor billboards are all over the | | | | don't respond well to "Now we have to have a |
| place. They're even advertised by the beer in your | | | | serious talk about drugs." Maybe they're watching TV |
| own refrigerator and the pills bottles in your medicine | | | | and there's a reference to drug rehab and Britney |
| cabinet. The fact is that parents who set a good | | | | Spears or alcoholism or substance abuse. Ask if they |
| example and educate their kids about the dangers of | | | | know what that's all about, and clear it up. Always |
| alcohol and drugs can play a big part in keeping their | | | | explain the family policy - we don't do that stuff |
| kids free of substance abuse that could lead to the | | | | because it can make us sick. |
| need for drug rehab. | | | | Instead of waiting, create an opportunity. Ask, "What |
| The average age a kid first tries alcohol is 11, and it's | | | | about all these pop stars going into drug rehab?" |
| only 12 for marijuana. And that's just the average, | | | | Present the truth about alcohol and drug abuse, |
| which means plenty start experimenting even | | | | addiction and drug rehab, discuss it all you want, and |
| younger. And kids needing drug rehab have been as | | | | again, clearly set out the family policy. |
| young as 10 or 12. But research shows that kids are | | | | Role-playing can help kids learn how to avoid being |
| 50 percent less likely to use drugs and alcohol if their | | | | sucked into trying drugs without looking like a dork to |
| parents teach them about the dangers, early and | | | | their friends. Get them to come up with ways they |
| well. | | | | can tactfully refuse, and act them out with you until |
| How do you get your kids to listen to you? | | | | they're comfortable. "No thanks, I don't drink beer, I |
| According to surveys, parents who listen to their | | | | have to stay in shape for baseball." or "No thanks, |
| children's feelings and concerns, and don't belittle | | | | let's (insert a favorite activity) instead." |
| them, have a better chance of establishing the kind | | | | Parents also need to find out about the local drug |
| of relationship needed to make kids comfortable | | | | scene and be able to tell their kids what to expect. |
| about talking to them. Kids pay more attention, and | | | | For example, learn some of the terminology and how |
| parents find it a lot easier to help them stay | | | | local kids might get drugs. And teach them that |
| drug-free. | | | | someone who says what they're offering isn't really |
| Choose information that suits a child's age and level | | | | a drug is probably lying. Always restate the family |
| of development. For a 6-year-old, look for | | | | policy! |
| opportunities to bring up the subject. Maybe they're | | | | And if you discover that your kid is trying alcohol or |
| washing their hands or brushing their teeth or taking | | | | drugs, find out how far it's gone. If it's beyond the |
| their vitamins. You can point out how that's one of | | | | early experimentation stage, call a drug rehab referral |
| the ways we take care of ourselves to stay healthy, | | | | service and discuss it with a professional counselor. |
| but there are some things we shouldn't do because | | | | They might need to get them into a drug rehab |
| they're not good for us, like smoking or taking | | | | program fast before the situation gets even worse. |